Gunnar Myrdal
Swedish economist known for work on economic development and racial issues.
Most quoted
"The American dilemma is the ever-raging conflict between the high-sounding general principles enunciated in the American Creed and the actual practices of discrimination."
— from An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy, 1944
"The 'soft state' is characterized by a general lack of social discipline, which manifests itself in various forms of corruption, inefficiency, and disregard for rules."
— from Asian Drama: An Inquiry into the Poverty of Nations, 1968
"The cumulative causation theory emphasizes that changes in one factor tend to induce changes in other factors, leading to a circular and self-reinforcing process."
— from Economic Theory and Underdeveloped Regions, 1957
All quotes by Gunnar Myrdal (102)
Valuations are the starting point for all social sciences.
Objectivity in social research is a myth; we must acknowledge our biases.
The welfare state is the only way to achieve true equality.
International aid must be more than charity; it must be partnership.
The population explosion threatens the very fabric of development.
Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Racism is a moral disease that afflicts the oppressor as much as the oppressed.
The market alone cannot solve social problems; government intervention is necessary.
In a democracy, the voice of the minority must be heard.
Science without values is blind; values without science are empty.
The challenge of our time is to reconcile growth with equity.
Peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice.
The future belongs to those who plan for it today.
Social scientists must be activists for change.
Inequality breeds instability; equality fosters progress.
The American dream is tarnished by racial prejudice.
Development requires not only capital but human capital.
Biases in research are inevitable, but transparency is mandatory.
The welfare of the world depends on the welfare of the poorest.
Life's meaning lies in contributing to a better society.
Contemporaries of Gunnar Myrdal
Other Economicss born within 50 years of Gunnar Myrdal (1898–1987).